KQED's Forum What Are Your 2026 Predictions?
Jan 8, 2026
Izzy Ramirez, a deputy editor at Vox, shares insights on AI-generated music topping charts, revealing concerns about democracy. Emma Goldberg, a cultural reporter for The New York Times, forecasts a shift away from fast fashion, championing authenticity. Michelle Singletary, a personal finance columnist, highlights the need for defensive budgeting as prices rise, urging consumers to resist dynamic pricing. Together, they discuss young people's political activism and the potential rise of ‘dumb phones’ as a cultural statement against screen addiction.
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Lock Down Your Financial Security
- Put strong security measures on your bank accounts and enable offered protections now.
- Reject cookies and tighten privacy settings to limit surveillance and fraud risk.
Anti-Slop Seeking Human Imperfection
- People will push back against 'slop' by valuing human imperfection and wabi-sabi in culture.
- Creators will emphasize messy, human touches to signal authenticity over sleek AI polish.
AI Could Top The Charts
- AI will increasingly blur lines in music and media, making entirely AI-generated pop plausible.
- Media outlets must set testable, timebound predictions to hold AI and politics forecasts accountable.
